This week Skype has been rolling out a beta of a feature called Video Messages to users. Basically you can send video messages to contacts that are up to three minutes in length. The internet has had hints of this feature since early December, so you’re stoked to try it out on your Windows Phone right? Nope. No love from Skype for any Windows users – desktop or phone.

In a bizarre move by a Microsoft-owned Skype, Video Messages is initially only available for iOS, Android, and Mac users. That’s right, there isn’t a way for you to create or playback Video Messages from the Skype client for Windows Phone or Windows 8. You can receive those messages, but it’s just a link to play it back online.

Video Messages is still an early beta, but it’s disappointing to not get to try it on out inside the Microsoft ecosystem. Instead, I had to fire up my Instagram machine iPhone 4 to check it out. Sure enough, you’ve got the option to Video Message alongside the options for video calls, voice calls, or sending photos.

Sure, Skype is basically a company within a company, but it’s a bit of a letdown to not see it available to the operating systems of that company it is a part of.

Reader comments

Amazing how a story changes between the different Mobile Nations websites. According to Android Central, this was a beta for only a small number of Mac, iOS and Android users - not all of them. To me that smells of the beta being a skunkwork project for some fo the Mac devs at Skype. For those complaining about the beta not being available on WP, this comment from the Android forums says it all:

"It showed up on my phone yesterday and my Skype has been dysfunctional since. Trouble signing in, trouble getting video feed, hang-ups which require a battery pull...
Explain why I don't get to opt in to a beta test, but instead have non-functional crap foisted on me?"

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I don't think the Skype division said to themselves we know this is crappy so we won't give it to Windows Phone users, just our competitor OS's. It may very well be crap but that's not the reason they didn't include WP.
As far as it being terrible on Android with all the ROM, radio & kernel flashing that goes on with Android who knows if the problem is strictly due to Skype.

I was more thinking that it was an internal project done by the Mac devs at Skype, and it was released in a small beta to see if it would work (and more to the point, be used). Its possible that it was easier to plumb in the video message capailbity in the mac/ios/android skype clients than the WP client - and also remove it if it turned out to be a dud that no one uses. For all we know, Skype might be intergrated into the OS for the next version on WP, which then relies on MS releasing updates for fixes.

At best this is really poor communications on MS part, if they are planning a deep integration of Skype. When announcing the Beta for iOS & Android all they had to to was say we are busy working on a update for Skype for WP which is coming soon, so stay tuned. Just announcing the iOS & Android betas without mentioning something coming for WP is a bigger problem then not having a new beta release.
Since we know Messenger will be going away soon, & it is currently built into the WP OS, I think it is safe to assume it will be replaced by Skype. Can this be done without a full fledged firmware update? If not integrating Skype into the OS will mean a even longer wait for updates then we have now.

This is why customers are leaving to another OS like Android/IOS and that's because MICROSHIT doesn't give a pinch about costumes. That's the difference between MICROSHIT and apple, APPLE LET THEIR COSTUMERS KNOW ABOUT ANY CHANGES IN THE OS THROUGH THEIR DEVELOPERS WHEN THEY GIVE A COPY OF THE FIRMWARE WITH A PREVIEW OF WHAT'S GONNA COME NEXT OR THEY TELL THE IPHONE USERS THAT THEY'RE Working ON A FIX OR SOMETHING NO LIKE MICROSHIT THAT THINKS THAT WE'RE OBLIGATED TO BUY THEIR PRODUCTS AND THEN TELL US YOU BOUGHT IT NOW SIT DOWN AND USE WHAT WE GAVE YOU.

I don't know how this new feature in Skype works, but the ability to send video's already exists in WP. Is it because it's not branded as "skype" that's bothering people?
MS said Skype functionality will be built into the messaging hub. So while maybe ignoring the updates on the skype app is unaccepptable to some, could it be that this is the reason??

If you can wipe away the shitty tears, and pull yourself away from this complaint session long enough to actually read the article you'll notice that this is actually available to premium users.
So in this long-ass thread of compliants, finger pointing, trashing, and threatening to leave (please do!) I haven't seen many of you actually say YOU ARE A PREMIUM USER!
If you aren't the why don't you try giving the options of STFU a try?

20 free then you have to be premium..all this talk about how Skype is going to work where do we get this info from Skype is an app now "Skype integration " in to os I can't find a final release date. Or what's yet to come for us ..nothing so I wonder where is this "supposed Skype integration"info is coming from is it just wishful thinking?

Skype for Windows Phone 8 is rubbish shame on microshit I'm so so disappointed at microshit.
Man I can't believe they just betrayed us like that after we've been so patient I just can't believe that im sick of my WP after three months when it took. Me years to get like this with crapple

AFTER TOMORROW IM GONA BE AN ANDROID THATS FORSURE I CANT SLEEP OVER THIS SHIT I CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE LOOK AT ME LOSSING SLEEP OVER MICROSHIT AND ALL THAT BECUZ I USE TO LOVE MICROSHIT AND I STILL HATE APPLE BUT SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 2 THATS THE PHONE IM GONNA BE HAVING TOMORROW

NOKIA DONT GET STUCK WITH MICROSHIT AND JUMP SHIP TURN TO ANDROID YOU STILL HAVE A CHANCE

I've been patient and chances are if you're following wpcentral, you've been patient, but patience only stretches so far and I'm almost to my limit. I love Microsoft and their products, but this news, for whatever reason is hard to swallow. My smartphone history is a Focus>Titan>L920 in addition to the Surface RT I got on launch day and the two W8 pcs that I have. But is waiting around for windows phone's day worth it? I find myself asking that question more and more as we progress.

and you're so sure about this? HOW? It isn't just the operating system it's the Microsoft developed apps like Facebook, Skype, PDF Reader that are seriously lacking beyond belief. And not just Microsoft apps, but apps from the big players like WhatsApp and Viber, 2 sorry excuses for an app.

KEEP ON DREAMING I BEING WATTING FO THAT FOR 2 YEARS AND NOTHING HAPPEN I HOPING THAT WHEN WINDOWS PHONE 8 RELEASE EVERTHING WAS GOING TO BE FIX AND ADD ALOT OF FEACTURES LIKE DELETING MULTIPLE PHONE NUMBER FIXING THE UNIVERSAL VOLUME MAKE PLAYLIST IN THE PHONE ITSELF

THE FACT IS THAT WHILE WE WAIT AVERYBODY ELSE IS ENJOING THE GOODNESS OF SKYPE BUT US AND THATS A MICRFOSHIT'S APP
MY QUESTION IS WHY THEY BOUGHT SKYPE FOR ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

The problem is that they weren't given all the facts to begin with. If the info about only having 20 free video messages and afterwards you would have to be a premium Skype member were included, this article would have less than half the comments.

WELL DONE MICROSHIT I BEING A BIG FAN OF MICROSHIT BUT THIS SI A SLAP IN THE FACE, I'M GOING BACK TO ANDROID OR MAYBE IPHONE 5 WHERE MY MONEY COUNTS BECUZ IT;S OBVIOUS THAT MICROSHIT DOESNT GIVE A POOP ABOUT US IM SALING MY WONDERFUL LUMIA 920 OR I JUST GONNA USE IT FOR A CAMERA BECUZ WHOS GONNA GIVE ME A CENT FOR A OS THAT DOESNT SUPPORT THEIR OWN PHONE THATS LAME GOODBYE MICROSHIT

I'm not liking this one bit. I have to get a new phone pretty soon. I'm really on the verge of ditching MS and going to Apple. If MS doesn't want to show some good will towards us than I'm done with MS. I wish someone would get MS to comment on this. I don't care if its beta or what. It should be on windows phone day and date as the other OS if not before. The dry spell of games isn't helping either. This is the 1st time I'm actually thinking of switching over to a new OS. Theres no way I could recommend win8 phone after this. Honestly if it wasn't for Nokia I wouldn't be thinking about not leaving.

should be no excuses now, used them all with wp7... I feel foolish even defending them. MS shouldn't ever ask why the OS never took off. They put to much effort in the other os's, which is fine seeing there is money to be made BUT seriouslyyy you have suck a great OS with no focus. Should just give Nokia the mobile division and full control.

So were mad that were not being beta testers for Skype? Why exactly? Let them do the testing and im sure ms is going to have it baked into the os instead, so go ahead, leave and journey back to iPhone, and I'll more than happily wait for what my os will natively do versus an addition to an APP!!

FUCK YOU MS!!
The skype app on WP7.5 is totally unusable piece of crap and the WP8 version which was supposed to have deep integration is just a buggy BETA. No photosynth too, after all this they cry that developers are ignoring their platform.

i will continue to use windows for my desktop and will continue to use surface but on the phone front the iphone is looking better and better. nokia is clearly the winner when it comes down to innovative hardware but microsoft is taking too long to catch up on the os front. this is their last chance with me for the phone os. BLUE better wow me...

i love the WP8 and i like the UI but man the lack of apps is killing me! I have iPhone 4 and L920 and yes i love the design and UI WP but when it comes to Notification, whatsapp, FB, Viber and News..... its all iPhone and hardly Lumia 920 its because of the stupid delay we get and no Push notification from News apps and lack of apps! I love Nokia for its hard work but MS im disappointed! I just hope the Blue update will fix the issues we have and by the time we have good apps! If not, then im not sure if iwll be with MS and i would love for Nokia to jump ships to andriod and compete with Samsung

i agree with you and how u feel about it! im coming from iPhone and i have everything from there! You are WP user and at least you should have the best apps from MS! Sadly MS needs alot of work to do! lets hope in the upcoming updated the OS and apps will get better

Usually, beta testing is done a smaller group of people. Assuming, iOS and Android users is NOT a small group, the only conclusion i can draw is that they already have something else cooking for WP users. May be this feature is integrated in8.1. I'd give them until MWC to unveil whatever they want to unveil. If nothing comes up, I am picking up the pitch fork against MS. Love is blind and I am about to fall out of love with MS, if shit doesnt start changing soon.
Nothng against any developers. I know this is all management BS!

i sent a tweet to phil spencer of xbox division yelling at them to make new games and he said to me Skulls of the shogun as if that game makes up for ALLLL the games we dont have i hold skype and xbox as well as microsoft as a whole responsible.

If that is the case, they could have waited for iOS and Android, this could have given Windows Phone a little bit of glitter, something Android and iOS could not do. They need to use what they have more efficiently.

Can it be so that MS/skype allready have fixed everything for WP but are waiting for the 15/3 to release the update? But for ios/android everything isent working as it should and is not prepared for the "only skype-messenger" and therefor they release beta but not 4 WP.
I hope thats the case anyway.

Why does anyone care that WP users aren't included in a BETA? For all we know, the beta only applies to these devices because the feature will eventually be baked into Windows OSs, which would require a different branch of development. Everyone needs to cool it...

Microsoft has done nothing, absolutely nothing, that will piss off the carriers. Globally it's done everything it can to please it's carriers, even if this meant that plenty of customers were waiting for Tango until early 2013 (yes AT&T folks) and having Skype baked into an OS will not be a favourite option from carrier perspective. There will be no way Microsoft will be allowed to get away with this. Facetime on iPhone is not cross platform. Skype is cross platform that in it self is making carriers not being able to sell their minutes! Take Whatsapp and other IM clients - in the UK, texts have no value, they are now gone unlimited on most networks, to lure customers. They will need unlimited internet in near future with such apps cross platform and to use it just like a normal phone call. We aren't ready globally for unlimited internet. Not the carriers.

I know, we are all tired of waiting and not sure why they chose to release the APP for iOS and Android but I say let's not throw our phones in the trash just yet. HOPEFULLY they annouce something, anything at MWC.

MS is like a chicken with its head cut off, they really haven't got a clue IMO. This is their second reset of the mobile OS & they are messing up again. MS has no control over 3rd party developers but at the bare minimum they should make sure their own products are better, or at parity, with their products on competing platforms. People can continue to say they don't care about this feature or that app because they don't use it, but it doesn't change the fact that many do & it's important to have them in the ecosystem.

App is definitely important and Microsoft is not doing anything about it. I don't know how many people saw my phone, really like it then ask me if there trivial apps like Pandora, you name it? Microsoft was late to the market but they brought a unique UI and it is time to bring the big name apps. And fix Xbox music and video.

I've been using windows mobile since I stopped using the Sidekick 2, used MDA, tmobile Wing, HTC Touch Pro 2, HD 7 and currently using Titan on T-Mobile. I'm saying all this because for the first time I'm really thinking of getting an Android phone because of all the missteps of Microsoft or lack of effort. If you add the lack of a high end wp8 device on t-mobile(and please don't tell me to go to ATT because I pay $98 after taxes for 2 lines with unlimited everything including international text or about the 8X) then I've every excuse to do so.

Waiting to see if Microsoft will step up their game and also Nokia stop the exclusive deals with ATT in the fall or will get the then current Nexus phone. This is coming from a guy who was waiting for the next Xbox so that I'll stop using my PS 3 because I believed in the 3 screen bs but now not so much.

Because we are dreamers man.... WE HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY WINDOWS PHONE WONT BE SHAFTED BY EVERY DEVELOPER FOR LACK OF USER BASE THAT WILL IN TURN HAVE THEM CREATE APPLICATIONS FOR OUR PLATFORMS AS IF THEY WERE IPHONE AND ANDROID, WE HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY MS WILL BELIEVE IN WHAT THEY START AND SEE IT THROUGH TO THE END AND STOP LEAVING US HALF ASSED CREATIONS THAT IF DONE PROPERLY WOULD BE A DELIGHT TO OWN AND USE. THAT DREAM MY FRIEND IS WP AND ALTHOUGH MS SEEMS TO BE GIVING ME A BIG OL' F U RIGHT NOW I WANT IT TO BE BETTER BECAUSE I KNOW IF DONE BETTER THEN IT WOULD BE TOP!

LOL that is funny. Reading $hit like this making me want to chose an alternative platform, but just thinking of the grid base femine handet set that is the iPhone that I left a year ago gives me goose bumps to look back on. Droid is just out of the question trojan riddled platform loaded with bloatware and google selling your movements to whoever is for the birds. "You went to a gentleman's club 3 months a new one just opened up in your area here is the promotion" Stuff like that can make you think you are living in the truman show.
This is truely disappointing though and all it means is that top exacts don't really use their products they make and are clueless when it comes to consumer needs. How about a little effing faith in the crap you sale Nokia does a better job at supporting your platform MS! If a Surface phone came out though this I think would change quick, you don't see this sort of thing happening on the Xbox...

He just wants to be able to use the video message feature thats not on WP & be able to use more popular apps. Joe said that once WP has more people using it and becomes profitable, he'll start caring about adding more apps.
Also, Bigfoot is real.

Interesting that this isn't even on the Windows desktop edition. The desktop client is built using a C++ library and compiler called Qt which allows you to write once and compile to all (Windows, OSX, Linux) in one go. This should be the same.

Im really considering selling my Lumia 820 and getting the xperia Z when it is released, this is just complete crap. Windows Phone should have been first, not Android or iOS. They have neglected everything on Windows Phone, including their Facebook app and i wont be surprised to see WP8 fail again.

Its not about being updated. No new features have been added to it since v2.5 which was released on 24th May 2012, we're coming up to one year with no new features.
The Skype app is complete rubbish, very buggy, the PDF app is a complete joke, notifications are a joke.
Microsoft keep adding fuel to the fire, if they don't give a crap for their own platform or customers, how do they expect others to, whether BBC, Google, Viber, Whatsapp, thats why these apps do not exist on the platform, thats why the ones that do are mostly rubbish.
If they keep doing this, they will see even loyal customers like me move on.

I seem to remember MS promising that WP8 would have "deep" Skype integration, meaning you could use it to call and message without having to open the app. What happened to that?

The powers that be at MS do seem to be trying to screw over the divisions within the company. If its not the games lot releasing Xbox Live games on iOS, it's nonsense like this. Windows phone is a great platform, but considering how little support MS are giving it beyond chucking dollars at ad campaigns, I'm surprised it's been as successful as it has('nt).

A representative of the company said the reason why this has not yet been released to the WP community is because there is not enough user base. Once they see enough end users, they will release it.
Also, pigs can fly.

This is getting far beyond ridiculous. Here they had a great change to bring new Skype features to their own ecosystems first but they leave us out completely. Thank god I chose Nokia's product as they clearly make the biggest effort to actually improve things.

Wow - just looked at all of these comments. So many people and we all feel the same way. MS looks at WP8 like every other developer. Small user base, difficult to develop for, inferior equipment, lack of carrier support, etc... As soon as Nokia spends the $ MS have them, I hope the make an Android - I'd follow them, even at the thought of going to the "do no good" ecosystem. The Yankees are on TV every weekend - because people want it. The Superbowl commands 3million dollar commercials because people watch. Nobody (including MS) develops for WP8 because nobody is on it. Man I feel like a sucker!

Mmmm, not usually one to join the whining but this does seem really outrageous. Not available for Windows but available for Mac? Last time I checked Windows users still vastly outnumbered Mac users. Not gonna pretend that this will drive me into the arms of the competition but increasingly I worry that I won't have a choice if this kind of crap continues. It's more than 6 months since they touted unmatched skype capabilities on WP8 and we still don't even have an app that works? If the only real alternatives weren't so unappealing this might have pushed me over the edge. It has pushed me a lot closer and, frankly, a good old dumbphone looks pretty good right now.

Photosynth anyone? Microsoft is NATORIOUS for its fragmented corporate structure that wont allow divisions to comunicate and work togeather. Its depressing, but not unexpected. Photosynth came out for iPhone almost a year before WP7, and its STILL not out for WP8. How does a corporation work like this?

I think Sam Sabri actually does a good job at generating clicks for WPCentral by sensationalizing news by writing it with the language that hits many bones. Well done Sam! ;)
However, with true journalism in heart, do try and elaborate on what you think the economic reasons may be behind such decisions from a firm. Hint: Revenues. The same way WPCentral is generating by clicks on your articles.

Seriously?
How is Windows release anything similar to what you have been moaning about?
Your pain is it's not on your phone. Do you realise that Windows 8 itself now has TWO freaking apps? Desktop and Metro app? Updating it for Windows = updating 2 versions.
Your language itself talks bundles about you. I am not very sure I even want to have a dialogue with you as you make me feel like I am iMore not WPCentral.

its not trite at all. people are simply tired of having MS show so much support for everyone but the people who are trying to be loyal customers. it's not simply the feature addition, it's yet another blow to the face for WP users.

You think it's trite when the parent company of your phone's OS releases functionality for every phone except their own? How would you feel if your mom baked cookies for everyone in your neighborhood and told you not to come? If we're being trite, you're being naive and apologetic.

Microsoft is, at this point, a laughingstock. GREAT OS... too bad they can't execute any other of the 100 things they need to do to stay relevant. They just look like a bunch of clowns trying to cram into a small car.

Same here... i really do prefer Windows Phone and the metro ui however this is just getting silly.

Microsoft has tons of potential to build a great ecosystem but it seems like they don't finish what they set out to do. An example, they launched Outlook.com & revamped SkyDrive in July 2012 yet their calendar service still remains unchanged. They need to get their act together.

this is exactly what i was talking about in the xbox games post. what the F*&^ is MS thinking???? Ballmer needs to get his head out of his @#$ and get this fixed. the fact that they own skype and we are still getting the shaft with their own mobile os is simply unacceptable. i'm really starting to think that i was an idiot to switch to all things MS. i have a lumia 920, xbox 360, 2 win 8 pc's and a surface rt. i love the possibilities of the ecosystem but this crap is a true sign of how MS really feels about us. we should start bombarding all of their twitter and social accounts with the things we want. its time to stop playing nice and start demanding they listen. i have supported the new systems to every one i know and am starting to feel like a total fool for believing that maybe this time would be different than zune. DEMAND WHAT YOU WANT!

Possibly, but that won't please the type of idiots who are complaining here. Having things part of, and built into the OS isn't good enough. They're more worried about a useless app-count competition.
They want to swipe> swipe> scroll> scroll open> log-in> USE an app to feel like they are doing something.
Being able to simply DO something isn't good enough for the ignorant.

I know people don't want to hear this. First off, I am a huge Windows and Windows Phone supporter, but this may be it for me. I'm tired of giving them my money so they can spend it on getting their products out to the people who didn't give them their money. This is a slap in the face and a disgusting gesture to their loyal consumers.

As long as the jackass Steve Ballmer is in charge this will keep happening. You hear him speak and it shocks you how just an incompitent moron could lead a conglomorate like Microsoft. He' just not stable enough. Microsoft needs a cool and calm head on its shoulders. Ballmer is the exact opposite.

Honestly, what made move to WP is Nokia! Nokia is working so hard and like the comments I read Nokia is running MS because Ms are so lazy! The problem with WP8 is I love it but I'm losing this love by the bad news from MS! Seriously, I respect Nokia for its hard work and if MS WILL NOT SUPPORT ITS PLATFORM then I wish for Nokia to move to Android and I'll be jumping ships with Nokia! Much love to Nokia which is trying to stand up while MS is breaking Nokia

I disagree no way for Nokia to go back to simbian because its rip! If Nokia is going to jump ships it will go to android and will compete with Samsung trust me! But I like MS but come on work hard before w ditch WP

The best word for this is embarrassing. It is embarrassing that SKYPE and PHOTOSYNTH are both owned by Microsoft and niether are on Windows Phone 8 (Skype = crappy beta) and both get feature updates on competing platforms.

Part of me wants to grab a Galaxy S4 when it comes out and it won't be me leaving Microsoft, it'll be Microsoft abandoning me. I've never owned a smartphone that wasn't powered by Microsoft software and I even had PocketPC before that, but at some point, I'll get fed up.

Has no one here ever picked up a book on Business economics, ever? This is THE best business move to start with. The revenue generation and profit maximization by feeding a beta to iOS users out weighs against good will from less than 3% or consumers. This is the money Microsoft can now afford to "maybe" improve Windows Phone. As far as Microsoft goes, WP is a painful appendix to say the least. Its giving no return in more than 2 yrs and instead Nokia and Microsoft are pumping money day in day out. They rather generate revenue from somewhere, if it means by serving the competition first so be it. What do we do after downloading betas? Go and look at reviews Skype team has got on Marketplace. WP crowd is sometimes illiterate to such an extent that they refuse to understand meaning of beta software!

Big deal. It's a beta feature, let them work it out on iOS and Android. They also need it there first as there's more competition for Skype/MS on those OS's.
I'm sure it won't be long before it's on Windows & WP. A matter of days/week as opposed to months.
I don't get all the frustration here, you made the choice to go with WP, you must have known about the app gap and that it wasn't going to be fixed overnight. But for the much cleaner and easier to use OS, such a trade-off is worthwhile and the rewards will pay off once the apps start to flow at a similar pace to iOS/Android - which I reckon will start to happen in mid-summer. WP is taking off, but it's still tiny in comparison to iOS/Anroid so isn't going to get more momentum til then, any moaning before then I find childish.

Skype's beta features take much longer than weeks or months. It takes a year in most cases. And this is not a case of whether we knew there will be a price gap. This is a case of Microsoft buying a company and then letting their own part of their own company completely forget about their own product. Especially considering that WP version of Skype is still in a pathetic state with no end in sight.
How much longer are you willing to sit and wait for any kind of useful apps to arrive to WP? Brushing things off like that will only prolong the wait. Skype is part of Microsoft now and WP is Microsoft's product, this is why it's such a big deal.

damn microsoft, dropped the ball once again. this sucks. im 100% invested in microsoft. I got my 3 roommates into windows phone. but everyday its more and more sad news, and i have been with windows phone since 2010 with the hd7. back in the day microsoft used to have events all over the us with parties and special prizes, hell i even won an htc titan. but man things havent changed much since then. i love my lumia 920, but other platforms are starting to look better, and i dont want to have to switch to lagdroid or crapple, i want wp8 to succeed with better apps and better support from microsoft smh. so much damn potential with the revoluitionary phone, but we cant even get a skype update along with everyone else grrrr

There really isn't a big deal on this, this is just a marketing strategy because they are trying to compete with snapchat and since that is only IOS and android they have to target them first and they want to see first how well it does and I guarantee windows phone will get this when it is out of beta

Agreed. The incompetence of some of this Microsoft executives is appalling. And the fact that they allow a Microsoft company to essentially perpetuate the idea that if you want to have good, cutting edge features you need to be on a different platform is beyond unacceptable. No self respecting CEO would allow so much incompetence.

This is such a goddamn joke.. Pathetic Microsoft..Absolutely pathetic. I can bet $100 that BB will get this before WP.. Microsoft just needs to sell WP to Nokia and go away since Nokia is the only one who gives even a slightest crap about the OS.
WP is slowly becoming a laughingstock of smartphones OSes. Not only doesn't WP get this feature, but Skype in general is worthless on WP.

Honestly its easier to beta test a service on smaller/more consistent user base (why testing on mac and IOS makes sense since there is very little customization on mac and non on IOS, so you know its not the graphics card or something that's messing it up)

Agree, to an extent. I think it makes sense to use iOS and Android OS users as beta testers - there hare hundreds of millions of those users and the feedback will be valuable.

Still puzzling though that Windows (PC) users were excluded; but I still think that they will definitely get substantial and valuable feedback from iOS and Android users simply because there are so many of them.

Note: I use a Lumia as my daily driver...I don't mind one bit that Microsoft is using other platforms to beta test as long as when the results are in, the use it to ensure perfection on WP.

We are past that already and talk around that have died off almost year ago.
It should have happened when Nokia was down and making a loss. Now it seems like Nokia will keep the 8 billion business of NSN that pretty much solifies that there's no plans to sell the company.
People tend to forget that Nokia has slighty more people working for them than Microsoft. It's not exactly what a software company wants.

Agree. They would have been so much better with Android as they could have actually had the freedom with the supported SoC's and implement TRUE 41MP PureView ages ago.
It's sad that they need their killed OS to out hardware innovations out first.